Mysteries from the Sea (4)

One of the more exciting beach finds loomed up one morning a couple

of years ago. It had been roped off and surrounded by half-a dozen aliens

camouflaged as sprouts -  US Marines from Okinawa who had been 

helicoptered in.

One of them had leaped atop the thing and was about to attack it with a 

power saw. That was a surprise - it was FRP !

 I always thought those missiles were made of exotic metals like 

beryllium duralimanganese alloy.  

Maybe it was DIY model.   

My view was suddenly and rudely blocked by a giant sprout. 

Which was a pity, for the marine with the power saw had just been knocked 

off his perch by a high pressure gush of seawater shooting from inside the fin.  

A good photo op. missed.

"Sirrr," the giant sprout said ,"Would you put that camera away?'"

I did as instructed, but reluctantly, after all, it was 'my' beach. 

"What is that thing" I enquired in my best Officer of the Boy Scouts voice.

He hesitated a second, then snapped out , "First stage, Poseidon rocket"

"Oh," I said politely, and searched skywards,

 "And when does the second stage arrive?"

He was not amused and gave me both barrels of a double-barreled glare.

I moved on. 

Next morning the beach was as clean as a whistle except for a few unusual

scents for the dog to explore. Maybe sprouts.

It wasn't a Poseidon I later found out, they don't have fins. So what was it?

Da-daa…! The mystery remains.